Abstract: A mobile robotic device has a motion sensor assembly configured to provide data for deriving a navigation solution for the mobile robotic device. The mobile robotic device temperature is determined for at least two different epochs so that an accumulated heading error of the navigation solution can be estimated based on the determined temperature at the at least two different epochs. A calibration procedure is then performed for at least one sensor of the motion sensor assembly when the estimated accumulated heading error is outside a desired range.

Abstract: A method includes sensing through time-of-flight measurements a distance of an object from an electronic device, sensing motion of the electronic device, sensing acoustic signals received by the electronic device, and detecting the presence of a human proximate the electronic device based on the sensed distance, motion and acoustic signals. Access to the electronic device is controlled based on whether a human is detected as being present.

Abstract: A circuit board cooling system includes a circuit board with a processor disposed thereon, a cooling unit operating according to an operating configuration to generate air flow to cool a portion of the circuit board, and a plurality of pressure sensors that are coupled with a sensor processing unit and configured to measure air pressure data at their respective locations. The pressure sensors include a first pressure sensor located between the processor and the cooling unit and a second pressure sensor located such that the processor is between the second pressure sensor and the cooling unit. Air pressure data measured by the plurality of pressure sensors is obtained by the sensor processing unit. The sensor processing unit compares the obtained air pressure data to reference air pressure data for the operating configuration and, based on the comparison, determines that a disturbance to the air flow exists.

Abstract: A mobile robotic device has a motion sensor assembly configured to provide data for deriving a navigation solution for the mobile robotic device. The mobile robotic device temperature is determined for at least two different epochs so that an accumulated heading error of the navigation solution can be estimated based on the determined temperature at the at least two different epochs. A calibration procedure is then performed for at least one sensor of the motion sensor assembly when the estimated accumulated heading error is outside a desired range.

Abstract: A circuit board cooling system comprises a cooling unit comprising fans, pressures sensors that measure air pressure at their locations, and a sensor processing unit coupled with the pressure sensors. The cooling unit operates according to an operating configuration and generates air flow to cool a portion of a circuit board. The pressure sensors comprise a first pressure sensor located between the portion of the circuit board and the cooling unit; and a second pressure sensor located such that the portion of the circuit board is between the second pressure sensor and the cooling unit. A sensor processing unit is configured to: obtain the air pressure data measured by the plurality of pressure sensors; and adjust the operating configuration of the cooling unit based on a cooling specification and a comparison of the obtained air pressure data measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.

Abstract: A system may include a motion sensor configured to generate a motion signal in response to a movement of an electronic device, and at least one feature detection circuit configured to determine at least one metric based on the motion signal. The system may further include a classifying circuit configured to determine whether the electronic device is in contact with a human body based on the at least one metric.

Abstract: A security system for a building comprises a pressure sensor and a computer system communicatively coupled with the pressure system. The pressure sensor coupled to a movable portion of a window in the building. The computer system is configured to: receive a first pressure measurement from the pressure sensor; compare the first pressure measurement to a reference pressure measurement; and based on the comparison, detect that the movable portion of the window has moved.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device may include a first sensor configured to generate first sensor data during a first time period and a second time period; a second sensor configured to be disabled during the first time period, the second sensor further being configured to generate second sensor data during the second time period; and a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the first sensor data during the first time period. The device may further include a classifying circuit configured to determine, during the first time period, whether the device has changed state based on the characteristic of the first sensor data, the classifying circuit further being configured to cause the second sensor to be enabled in response to a change in a state of the device.

Abstract: A sensor chip is mounted on a PCB and electrically connected to a SOC mounted on the PCB via at least one conductive trace. The sensor chip includes configuration registers storing and outputting configuration data, and a PLD receiving digital data. The PLD performs an extraction of features of the digital data in accordance with the configuration data, and the configuration data includes changeable parameters of the extraction. A classification unit processes the extracted features of the digital data so as to generate a context of an electronic device into which the sensor chip is incorporated relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data. The configuration data also includes changeable parameters of the processing technique. The classification unit outputs the context to data registers for storage.

Abstract: A sensor chip is mounted on a PCB and electrically connected to a SOC mounted on the PCB via at least one conductive trace. The sensor chip includes configuration registers storing and outputting configuration data, and a PLD receiving digital data. The PLD performs an extraction of features of the digital data in accordance with the configuration data, and the configuration data includes changeable parameters of the extraction. A classification unit processes the extracted features of the digital data so as to generate a context of an electronic device into which the sensor chip is incorporated relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data. The configuration data also includes changeable parameters of the processing technique. The classification unit outputs the context to data registers for storage.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to position determination, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses to determine the walking direction (heading of a user) using MEMS inertial sensors commonly found in mobile devices such as cellphones. According to some aspects, the invention includes a methodology to allow the walking angle to be determined dynamically. In embodiments, the methodology includes pattern matching accelerometer measurement data to a reference acceleration pattern.

Abstract: A circuit board cooling system comprises a cooling unit comprising fans, pressures sensors that measure air pressure at their locations, and a sensor processing unit coupled with the pressure sensors. The cooling unit operates according to an operating configuration and generates air flow to cool a portion of a circuit board. The pressure sensors comprise a first pressure sensor located between the portion of the circuit board and the cooling unit; and a second pressure sensor located such that the portion of the circuit board is between the second pressure sensor and the cooling unit. A sensor processing unit is configured to: obtain the air pressure data measured by the plurality of pressure sensors; and adjust the operating configuration of the cooling unit based on a cooling specification and a comparison of the obtained air pressure data measured by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.

Abstract: A circuit board cooling system comprises a circuit board, a processor disposed on the circuit board, a cooling unit operating according to an operating configuration to generate air flow to cool a portion of the circuit board, a plurality of pressure sensors configured to measure air pressure data at their respective locations, and a sensor processing unit coupled with the plurality of pressure sensors. The plurality of pressure sensors comprises a first pressure sensor located between the processor and the cooling unit and a second pressure sensor located such that the processor is between the second pressure sensor and the cooling unit. The sensor processing unit: obtains the air pressure data measured by the plurality of pressure sensors; compares the obtained air pressure data to reference air pressure data for the operating configuration; and based on the comparison, determines that a disturbance to the air flow exists.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one conductive trace thereon. A system on chip (SoC) is mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the conductive trace. A sensor chip is mounted on the PCB in a spaced apart relation with the SoC and electrically coupled to the conductive trace such that the sensor chip and SoC are electrically coupled. The sensor chip includes an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive configuration data as input, acquire data from the accelerometer and/or the gyroscope. The control circuit is also configured to process the data so as to generate a context of the electronic device relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data, and output the context.

Abstract: A security system for a building comprises a pressure sensor and a computer system communicatively coupled with the pressure system. The pressure sensor coupled to a movable portion of a window in the building. The computer system is configured to: receive a first pressure measurement from the pressure sensor; compare the first pressure measurement to a reference pressure measurement; and based on the comparison, detect that the movable portion of the window has moved.

Abstract: A method includes sensing through time-of-flight measurements a distance of an object from an electronic device, sensing motion of the electronic device, sensing acoustic signals received by the electronic device, and detecting the presence of a human proximate the electronic device based on the sensed distance, motion and acoustic signals. Access to the electronic device is controlled based on whether a human is detected as being present.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor chip including at least one sensing device and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive configuration data as input, and acquire data from the at least one sensing device in accordance with the configuration data. The control circuit classifies a context of the at least one sensing device relative to its surroundings based on analysis of the acquired data in accordance with the configuration data.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device may include a first sensor configured to generate first sensor data during a first time period and a second time period; a second sensor configured to be disabled during the first time period, the second sensor further being configured to generate second sensor data during the second time period; and a processor configured to determine a characteristic of the first sensor data during the first time period. The device may further include a classifying circuit configured to determine, during the first time period, whether the device has changed state based on the characteristic of the first sensor data, the classifying circuit further being configured to cause the second sensor to be enabled in response to a change in a state of the device.

Abstract: A system may include a motion sensor configured to generate a motion signal in response to a movement of an electronic device, and at least one feature detection circuit configured to determine at least one metric based on the motion signal. The system may further include a classifying circuit configured to determine whether the electronic device is in contact with a human body based on the at least one metric.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having at least one conductive trace thereon. A system on chip (SoC) is mounted on the PCB and electrically coupled to the conductive trace. A sensor chip is mounted on the PCB in a spaced apart relation with the SoC and electrically coupled to the conductive trace such that the sensor chip and SoC are electrically coupled. The sensor chip includes an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive configuration data as input, acquire data from the accelerometer and/or the gyroscope. The control circuit is also configured to process the data so as to generate a context of the electronic device relative to its surroundings, the processing being performed in using a processing technique operating in accordance with the configuration data, and output the context.